Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has paid his own tribute to George Best and admitted: 'He has left us with a million memories, all of them good ones.'

Ferguson put into words the feeling of all football fans at yesterday's death of the legendary United and Northern Ireland winger.

He said: 'At this moment I just think of him as a player. It's those moments we will relish.

'My own particular memory of him is playing against Scotland at Windsor Park. Tommy Gemmell was one of the best full-backs in the world at the time George gave him the mother and father of all chasings. I will always remember that particular day.

'He was such a special player and I think I speak for everyone associated with Manchester United .'

The United chief added: 'Some people are just born with a craft and leave an indelible mark on people's lives. The thing I remember, apart from his talent, was his courage.

'I can see him flying down the wing riding tackles from people like Ron Harris, Tommy Smith and Norman Hunter.

'They were serious guys - you didn't mess with them - and it was a time when you needed to be struck down by a tomahawk just to get booked, yet he rode all that.

'Every time he went down he got up again and just said 'Give me the ball'. That will stick in my mind forever.'

Sir Bobby Charlton, a director at Old Trafford and a team-mate of Best's during his time at the club, said: 'Manchester United's glorious history has been created by people like George Best.

'Anyone that witnessed what George could do on the pitch wished they could do the same. He made an immense contribution to the game, and enriched the lives of everyone that saw him play. It is a very sad day.

'Football has lost one of its greats, and I have lost a dear friend. He was a marvellous person and my thoughts are now with his family.'

Portuguese legend Eusebio revealed he had lost a 'great old friend'.

Eusebio, perhaps Best's most famous international adversary during his heyday in the 1960s, played opposite the Manchester United ace in the 1968 European Cup final at Wembley.

Best's superb solo goal in extra-time of the final helped United win a first European Cup for an English club and denied Eusebio's club Benfica a third triumph in the competition.

By coincidence United's next Champions League match will be at Benfica's Estadio da Luz where there stands a statue of Eusebio, who today said football had lost one of its greatest players.

'The world football has lost a great,' said Eusebio, who is now 63. 'Personally, I've lost a great old friend.

'At a moment like this we can remember how important this man was for British and world football. He was fabulous.'

Eusebio still has vibrant memories of his side's Wembley defeat in what was arguably Best's career highlight.

'George Best was a fabulous player in that group of players at Wembley,' he added.

Diego Maradona hailed the Manchester United legend, saying: 'George inspired me when I was young. He was flamboyant and exciting and able to inspire his team-mates.

'I actually think we were very similar players - dribblers who were able to create moments of magic.

'And I can also relate to what George has been through because of his addiction to alcohol. I was also very sick - but I pulled out of it by a miracle,' the Argentine said.

Johan Cruyff, the former Holland international, described Best's talent as 'unique'.

He said: 'What he had was unique, you can't coach it.'

Asked if Best was one of the game's greatest, Cruyff said: 'I think if you talk about Europe, you talk about five or six and if you talk about his qualities he'd always be in there.'

All Premiership and Coca-Cola League matches this weekend will be preceded by a minute's silence.